Keeping Shelves Stocked Proves To Be Challenge For Local Stores

Like many communities around the world, Ste. Genevieve has struggled with some shoppers hoarding goods and others finding shelves empty during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s not going well,” Janet Cox, manager of the Rozier’s Country Mart in Ste. Genevieve, said last week.

Not only are customers stocking up on supplies like toilet paper, disinfectant wipes and bread as soon as they arrive but the supply has also fallen off.

“I’m hoping we’ll get a bigger shipment tomorrow [Thursday, March 19],” Cox said. “We’ve been busy. People are shopping from Festus and St. Louis here. It’s been hectic.”

She said the store is restocked each week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. However, the amount of goods delivered has fallen off.

“They’re wanting to limit each store to 1,100 pieces, one truck,” Cox said. “Normally, we get more than one truck on a normal basis. So, if we’re only going to get one truck, a whole lot of product is going to be shorted for us.”

It isn’t just panicked customers hoarding

“It’s just a mass of things,” Cox said. “Some of the stores started buying in great quantities, and our warehouse ran out. If we start ordering more than we need, they’re going to kick our order out.”

See complete story in the March 25 edition of the Herald.

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